David Woakes-Group Business Development Manager, Jonathan Lee Recruitment.

An engineer apprentice by background with 20 years’ experience in technical recruitment, David is an advocate of UK advanced engineering and manufacturing. Supporting future 4IR skills and STEM careers at all entry levels, David volunteers as an Enterprise Advisor for the national Careers Enterprise Company programme and sits on the Skills Factory board.

Synopsis: Finding, retaining and growing the skills required in the marketplace is one of the most critical factors facing engineering and manufacturing businesses. We are experiencing a significant skills crisis and need to think differently about attracting people today in the ‘war for talent’ but also consider how to encourage a sustainable stream of new talent to futureproof the growing demands of the sector.

The specialist FMCG team at Jonathan Lee Recruitment will provide insight into how hard-to-find skills are being identified and attracted to the Food & Beverage sector, providing case studies of successful approaches and insight into how to develop a holistic approach to recruitment and skills planning. They will also address the additional pressures being evidenced in the market from ‘competitive’ sectors and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.